Robotic Cardiac Procedures

Providing the most comprehensive robotic cardiac surgery program in South Carolina.

Spartanburg Regional in South Carolina offers robotic minimally-invasive cardiac surgery procedures using the da Vinci Surgical System for heart patients.

Our cardiothoracic surgeons perform the following robotic cardiac procedures:

·         Tricuspid valve repair – small incisions that are less than 2 inches are performed on the tricuspid valve, where the surgeon controls the movement and placement of the instruments to open the sac that surrounds the heart to perform the procedure.

·         Removal of cardiac tumors (atrial myxoma) – one to two centimeter incisions are made into the chest—between the ribs.  In once incision, a tiny camera is inserted so the atria can be viewed by the surgeons, and in the other incisions the robotic surgical tools are inserted to access the surgical site.  While the heart is beating, the surgeon is able to remove the cardiac tumors.

·         Closure of atrial septal defect – performed through small incisions on the right side of the chest, the surgeon uses the robot’s arms to control the movement and placement of the endoscopic instruments to retrieve a small patch of pericardial tissue in order to use it to close or repair the defect.

·         Coronary artery bypass surgery – performed through a small incision where the surgeon uses the robotic arms to open the pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart) to harvest the mammary artery in the chest wall.  The mammary artery is then used to bypass a blocked heart artery through a minimally invasive incision.

·         The MAZE operation for atrial fibrillation – Without dividing the sternum or stopping the heart, the MAZE operation for atrial fibrillation is performed through small incisions between the ribs.  The robotic instruments are used to manipulate a catheter and perform ablations.  The catheter directs cryo-freeze or microwave energy to specific areas in the heart tissue in order to create lesions to block erratic electrical signals from traveling to the heart.

·         Mitral valve surgery (repair and replacement) – similar to other robotic heart valve surgeries, incisions that are less than 2 inches are performed on the mitral valve (located in the left atrium, upper heart chamber) to open the pericardium to perform the heart procedure.  Mitral valve repair involves reconstructing your valve using your own tissues.

Robotic Surgery Benefits for Cardiac Patients at Spartanburg Regional

For many cardiac patients at Spartanburg Regional, robotic surgery offers numerous potential benefits as compared to traditional open surgery for the heart, including:

·         Less pain

·         Less scarring

·         Better recovery

·         Less blood loss

·         Smaller incisions

·         A shorter hospital stay 

Confidence in Spartanburg Regional Robotics for Cardiac Surgery

Spartanburg Regional has the largest volume and most comprehensive robotic program in South Carolina, including the most extensive robotic cardiac surgery experience in the state using the da Vinci Surgical System.

If you think you might be a candidate for a robotic heart surgery, contact Robotic Surgery at Spartanburg Regional for more information or to ask for a referral.